"Footprints, Footsteps"

"Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps (footprints) were not known." (Psalm 77:19)

It's always the, "not known," part which bewilders.

In one place the word for, "footprints," or, "footsteps," is translated, "trail."  The word in Arabic means, "mark, sign, trace."  Interesting that, "footprints," are what we see; "footsteps," are what we hear.  Some people act and talk as though they always see the, "footprints," always see the, "trail;" marks, signs, and traces abound.  There have been times when I neither saw nor heard anything.

There was a time in my life when all I saw was blackness, void, nothingness.  But I learned that even when you do not see the, "footprints," or hear, "the footsteps," Jesus is, "a Very (not 'maybe') Present Help in trouble."  The pathway may not be clear, even visible at all, no "signs" of His Presence, not even a "trace," but, "very present," always, in everything is Jesus.  Yes, it's a cute story about the two sets of footprints in the sand, and then only one set.  But the lesson of that story was learned only after the season when there was no ability to go on, just a basket case.

"Footprints," or no, "footsteps," sensing His Presence or not, every Follower of Jesus Christ is a 24/7/366, ever-present child in our Ever-Present Jesus.  My whole life is a testimony to this "Amazing Grace," when I "saw" His, "footprints," or didn't "see" them.  So I say to you today, my friend, that whatever you are going through in this moment, the Bible tells us, "Fret not yourselves."  His, "way," is still, "in the great waters," those waters which may seem as though they are overwhelming you.  You may feel as those who were, "in the sea,..in the great waters," that terrifying time, walking, pulling, carrying through the sea bottom, walls of water on both sides, the other side not even visible.  But the time came when they were "safe on the other side."  Storms don't last forever, even though some may feel as though their whole life has been one storm after another. 

The promise of Jesus that, "I am with you always," further assures us that even when we cannot see the, "footprints," or hear the, "footsteps," our, "ever present help," Jesus the Christ, is, "ever present." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, what more can I say?  Thank You.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Bible Prayers For---- Whomever

"In You, Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame....For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth.  (Psalm 71:1 & 5)

I prayed Psalm 71 this morning for President, Donald Trump. 

I did something which I have not done for quite a while; I actually watched a humanist news show, and saw pure evil, hyenas doing all they could to bring down the US President.  Now we know that President Trump is far from "perfect," whatever any more that word may mean.  But I can tell you that I prayed for Presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, even though they were opposed to Jesus Christ, His Words, and His Kingdom.  The Bible does not tell us to just pray for family and people we like.  The Bible commands us, "Therefore I exhort first of all that...prayers...be made...for all mankind...."  I want to share the verses which particularly stood out to me this morning to pray for the US President.  See if they don't also apply to a lot of other situations.

* I ask that President Trump puts his trust totally in You, Lord Jesus. (v. 1)
* I pray that he finds only in You, Lord Jesus, "a Rock of habitation to which [he] may continually come. (v.3, NASB)
* "Deliver [him]...from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel." (v.4, NIV)
* "Bring disgrace and destruction on [his] accusers.  Humiliate and shame those who want to harm [him]." (v. 13, NLT)
* Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that President Trump, "....will tell of Your righteous acts all day long...." And I pray that those, "....who want[] to harm [him will be] put to shame and confusion." (v.24, NIV)
Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Afraid"?

"But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." (Psalm 56:3, NLT)

Every month when I come to this section of the Psalms I am captured by the titles in the NIV & NLT: 
    Psalm 56:         "A Dove on Distant Oaks
    Psalms 57-59:  "Do Not Destroy"
    Psalm 60:        "The Lily of the Covenant," or, "Testimony)"
One can say with a great degree of accuracy that David spent most of his life "running for his life."  He probably felt like "A Dove on Distant Oaks."  No wonder he wrote about "Do Not Destroy."

Religious people tend to glorify David (as they do all "super saints") as the great "shepherd-king" of Israel, giant slayer, mighty warrior, which can be charismatic code for, "perfect, no problems, no fears," or, "I-want-to-be-like-him/her."  Such appraisal comes from letting other people do their Bible reading for them.  For far too many, the only Bible reading they do is when the Scriptures for the sermons/teachings are put up on the screen.  Erroneous theology, and outright heresy and disillusionment feeds on such a life style in the Church.

David says, "afraid," three times in Psalm 56.  Notice some of the other words in context:  "hounding me, attack me, slander me, harm me, twisting what I say, plotting to harm me, kill me."  Here is the simple, yet powerful prayer he prayed when faced with such: "Don't let them get away with their wickedness...."  (I pray this, too, for the nations.)

Now most people are too proud to admit to, "afraid."  But worry, for instance, is a sort of clandestine, "afraid."  We can use prettier words such as apprehension, anxiety, tension, but they all come back to, "But when I am afraid...." 

Ah, but then we have the great declaratory faith/trust/confidence of David, and may it be the same for you and me, "But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in You."  I like how the NLT translates the next verse, "I praise God for what He has promised."  The NKJV puts it this way several times: "In God (I will praise His Word)....In God (I will praise His Word), in the Lord (I will praise His Word), in God I have put my trust; (therefore) I will not be afraid."  This is Central Biblical Theology.

David's trust and confidence was, "The Word of God," Who is Jesus, "The Lord is my Shepherd," Jesus, the One, "....God...has promised."  David's life and trust was based upon, "I praise God for what He has promised," i.e., "The Word of God," Who, "became flesh," and Whose Words are, "dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock"---- Words.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I say with David, "What time I am afraid (anxious, worried), I will trust in You."  Amen.

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* I know in recent years we have been sharing about the Berlin Mission earlier, which can lead to the "crying-wolf" syndrome.  We pray it does not with you.  Europe is becoming more of a challenge.
* You can access the devotional any time at: 

   apfdevotionals.blogspot.com

* The News, Commentary Blog at:

   jhs58.blogspot.com  (New article today)

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

I Cannot Explain What Is Going On

"The One Who existed from the beginning is the One we have heard and seen....He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life." (1 John 1, NLT))

I think if I were to preach somewhere again, as I did yesterday morning in our local "Prayer Breakfast," I would again use this text.  Why is this blessing me so (Rhetorical)? 

I had some professors and fellow students in seminary dispute this Epistle as John's.  But why has this always sounded so "John-like" to me?  "We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands.  He is Jesus Christ, the Word of Life."

You will remember that it was John who laid his head on Jesus at the "Last Supper/Passover" Jesus celebrated with the twelve, yes, the twelve; even Judas was there.  Maybe it would have behooved Judas to have had a "head-resting-on-Jesus" relationship with the Master.  Judas was, however, too interested in "the mission," or "the work," or, well the anything-but what Jesus is after in you and me, "We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands.  He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life."

My, "own eyes," have not "seen" Jesus, nor have I, "touched Him with [my] own hands."  Yet meditating in 1 John 1:1-4 over these past days, its seems as though in some mysterious way I have.  Tears have come to my eyes while reading these, "God-Breathed," Words.  "He was with the Father and then He was shown to us."  Wow! Has Jesus ever been "showing" Himself to me.  I am going to sign off now.  While I cannot understand fully what is going on, I shall treasure these moments in Jesus I know "throughout" Eternity.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for this.

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You can read the article in the Johnstown Newspaper about yesterday's prayer breakfast here in Johnstown at:
www.tribdem.com
Scroll down to the title: "WATCH VIDEO"
The article is well written, I thought.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2